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This page will have software,
electronics and information about the technologies which
help make our jobs easier.
Articles
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| My
PDA, Myself
by Donna Schwartz Mills |
I
used to be one of those people who kept
everything in
their head. I prided myself on my ability to
memorize phone
numbers and birthdays, and knew my schedule
without writing
anything in a calendar.
Then I became a mom.
I am now one of the most forgetful people on the
planet. I
don't know if it's due to the fact that I am no
longer
responsible for just myself (keeping track of my
schedule,
my daughter's schedule, the school's schedule,
the play
dates, the after school lessons and more)... or
if I lost
brain cells during pregnancy ... but my short
term memory has
turned to mush. These days, I need to write
everything
down... more than ever, now that I have a
business of my
own.
I made but one resolution last year: To do a
better job of
tracking my family's schedule and recording my
business
expenses. I started out great - I bought a
spanking new
organizer with custom pages and pouches for
receipts, stamps
and business cards. I kept a schedule for me and
my family,
wrote down all my mileage (a must for tax
purposes!) and
tracked my biz expenses...
...for about two months. The book was too big to
fit in my
bag, it was heavy to carry - and I began leaving
it at home
more often than not, which kind of defeated the
purpose of
having an organizer at all. Then, I lost it and
all the
information it contained.
So I bought another one. This time, I decided to
go the
deluxe route. I headed to my local Franklin
Covey store and
purchased a beautiful butternut leather book and
pretty
organizer pages, which included Stephen Covey's
system on
becoming more effective. The whole package cost
me about
$100 - I figured if I invested this much into
it, I would be
less apt to lose it.
I started writing down goals and tracking all of
my business
tasks, and was feeling quite on top of things...
...for about two months. Once again, the biggest
obstacle to
using the system was that it was too bulky and
heavy to
carry with me everywhere. I looked with envy at
friends who
had invested in electronic PDA (Personal Digital
Assistant)
organizers - small, light-weight devices that
sync up with
your computer and fit easily into a purse. That,
I thought,
would be a solution - if only they were not so
expensive.
Well, PDA's are not so expensive any longer.
With the
entry-level Palm model retailing at just $99,
and Handspring
Visors available at similar cost, almost
everyone can afford
to carry one now.
What to Look for in a PDA
There is a dizzying array of PDA models with
various
features, so deciding which one you buy can be a
confusing
process. Since a PDA is really just a small,
hand-held
computer, your buying decision should be based
on some of
the same considerations you make when purchasing
a desktop
system:
1. RAM
2. Speed
3. Expandability
4. Price
There are two major competing operating systems
in the PDA
world. The most popular uses the system
developed by Palm -
these include the Handspring Visor, the Sony
Clie and of
course, the Palm Pilot. The other major OS is
called
PocketPC - this is a Windows-based environment
developed by
Microsoft to compete with Palm. It is somewhat
easier to
exchange information between PocketPC handhelds
and Windows
based software - but at a price. PocketPC
requires more
system resources - the popular Compaq iPaq H3650
features
a minimum of 32 MB of RAM, which makes these
devices slightly
heavier and more expensive than the ones that
run the Palm
OS.
The folks at ZDNet have created a guide to help
you decide
which PDA models are best for you. While you're
there, you
can view a list of the most popular models and
user reviews
and even shop online for the best prices:
http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2581305,00.html
Using Your New PDA
All PDA models come bundled with the two most
important
organizing functions: Address book and Calendar.
If you use
Microsoft Outlook on your desktop computer, you
can import
all of your current entries with ease via your
new
handheld's syncing function.
Creating new entries is also a cinch. You have
the option of
tapping an on-screen keyboard with your stylus
or "writing"
the text using your device's built-in
handwriting function
(called "Graffiti" on Palm based
systems). Graffiti takes a
little bit of getting used to, but it's pretty
easy to
master. Most users tend to fluctuate between the
two entry
systems.
There are thousands of third-party software
programs that
you can download into your new PDA - many of
them are free.
My personal favorite is AvantGo, which allows me
to carry
the movie listings from every theater in my
local area.
These update automatically whenever I sync my
handheld to
my desktop.
Each of the major PDA manufacturers carries
software links.
You'll also find much to choose from at these
sites:
http://www.palmgear.com
http://www.handango.com/
http://www.pilotzone.com/
http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/
http://www.memoware.com/
Bear in mind that you are limited by the amount
of RAM
included in your device. If you find yourself
running out,
you should look into adding a new memory module.
Technology writer Mark Kellner offers the
following advice
on getting along with your new PDA:
1. Synchronize and backup at least once per day.
2. Watch your batteries. The more inexpensive
models tend to
use AAA-sized batteries - make sure you have a
steady
supply.
3. Protect your device with a case. Chances are,
your new
PDA came with a catalog of third party vendors
offering a
wide variety of products. Check them out.
4. Get a screen protector. These are thin sheets
of plastic
that use static to adhere to the screen.
I received my new Handspring Visor as a
Christmas gift and I
love it. Because it fits right into my handbag
without
adding much weight, it is as constant a
companion as my
wallet and cellular phone. I'm trying out some
expense
tracking and vehicle expense software, as well
as a diet and
exercise log and feel good about my prospects of
meeting
this year's resolutions... I'll let you know in
a couple of
months!
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| About
the Author |
Donna
Schwartz Mills writes about the specific needs
of
work at home parents at her website, The
ParentPreneur Club
"For Parents Who Want Choices, Not Office
Politics." The
latest news, tips, and tools you need to help
grow your home
based business while raising a family.
< http://www.parentpreneurclub.com >
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter:
< mailto:subscribe@parentpreneurclub.com > |
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